Romeo and Juliet

Act 2 Scene 4

Romeo and Juliet

Act 2 Scene 4

Key Characters

Mercutio

Romeo's friend, whom everyone never takes seriously and who is always telling jokes.

Romeo

Son of Lord and Lady Montague who loves Juliet and plans to get married with her so they can't be split up.

Benvolio

Romeo's cousin who always wants to make peace between the two families.

Mercutio

Romeo's friend, whom everyone never takes seriously and who is always telling jokes.

Romeo

Son of Lord and Lady Montague who loves Juliet and plans to get married with her so they can't be split up.

Benvolio

Romeo's cousin who always wants to make peace between the two families.

Nurse

Juliet's best friend, acts as a mother to Juliet. The nurse is Juliet's messenger sent to get the details of the marriage from Romeo

Nurse

Juliet's best friend, acts as a mother to Juliet. The nurse is Juliet's messenger sent to get the details of the marriage from Romeo

Scene Summary & Visual Representation

The scene opens with Benvolio and Mercutio talking about Tybalt challenging Romeo to a duel. Benvolio says that Romeo will accept but the Mercutio says that just because he may accept does not mean he is a real man to fight him because his love is what makes him weak and this is his flaw. Romeo then catches up with them while they are walking and Mercutio realizes that he is not longer moping about Rosaline and is now himself again. The nurse soon comes looking for Romeo and is made fun of by the group of boys that contain Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio and their many friends. The nurse finally gets to speak with Romeo alone and they say that Juliet will say she is going to confession with Friar Lawrence but she is actually going to get married and the nurse will get the rope ladder for Romeo to climb into her room to seal the marriage to ensure they will never be split up.